Bolder Boulder: From Finland to fit

Paakkonen's quest brings him to Boulder's 10K for first time

By Brian Howell Camera Sports Writer

Posted:
05/26/2013 04:00:00 PM MDT

Finland's Riku Paakkonen points to the Marshall Mesa trail sign in Boulder during a trip here in June of 2012. Paakkonen was in town as the winning bidder on a "Boulder Olympic Training Experience" package in a charity auction. As part of the package, Paakkonen spent time training with local Olympians and other legends, and wrapped up his week with a run up in the Boulder foothills with local runner Amanda McCracken. Paakkonen loved Boulder enough to return this week to participate in the 2013 Bolder Boulder.
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Online: Watch for live coverage of today's Bolder Boulder 10K at dailycamera.com.

In print: Tuesday's Camera will feature full race coverage, as well as the top 2,000 men's and women's finishers. The full Bolder Boulder Results Guide, featuring every finisher from the race, will be published in Thursday's Camera.

Thousands of people every year dedicate themselves to a workout program in an effort to get in shape.

Riku Paakkonen's dedication has gone to a whole new level.

A native of Finland, Paakkonen was overweight and out of shape when he got himself into running six years ago. Now he travels the world to experience his new-found passion in a variety of ways.

The latest trip will put the 46-year-old from Helsinki on the Bolder Boulder course this year.

"I'm not here to do any times or run a (personal record) or anything like that," he said. "I just want to see the atmosphere and see all the people and all the energy and all of that stuff. I can try my PR somewhere else."

About six years ago, Paakkonen, who has spent his professional life in the music industry, dedicated himself to a healthy lifestyle that included running.

"Even at that point, I never thought that one day I would run a marathon," he said. "I thought it's like totally crazy, but a couple of years later I did."

He ran his first marathon in 2008 and said he now does one or two a year. His favorite distance is a half-marathon, but he also enjoys 10Ks and 5Ks.

"Anything that makes you exhaust yourself is fine," he said.

Paakkonen's quest for races has taken him to Puerto Rico, and he has run in the New York City Marathon several times. He pays for these trips through charity auctions.

"I buy packages that are of interest to me and also it's always nice to know that any money that is raised is good for important things," he said. "It's a win-win situation. It's a way to raise money for charity and for me, it's a great way to get to some nice places. I'm really into running and I've learned a lot from these trips."

One of his most enjoyable trips came last June when he bid on and won a prize for the Boulder Olympic Experience. He spent nearly a week in Boulder, where he got to meet and run with several elite runners. Among them, he got to meet 2012 Olympians Benita Willis of Australia, Lidia Simon of Romania and Hilda Kibet, who is a Kenyan-born Dutch athlete.

He also ran with 1993 marathon world champion Mark Plaatjes and former elite marathoner Don Janicki. Plaatjes is now co-owner of the Boulder Runner Company and Janicki is the pro athlete coordinator for the Bolder Boulder. He also ran with Arturo Barrios, a former world record holder in the 10,000 meters, and went to the home of Constantina Dita, the 2008 Olympic marathon champion, for dinner.

"It was a fantastic trip," he said. "It was so much learning and so much getting know the place and the trails and everything you need to know about here."

During that trip, he learned about the Bolder Boulder and knew that one day he would like to participate in the annual race.

"I didn't know I would be here the next year," he said.

Another auction came up, however, and he bid on a trip to return to Boulder and run in the Memorial Day event.

Paakkonen arrived in Boulder about nine days before the race and he'll return home the day after. He said he would love to spend more time getting to know the area, but is excited about making the most of his time in Boulder.

"I think the week will be going too quickly," he joked. "I'm trying to enjoy it as much as possible. That's the whole point behind it."